XN000022-1982-03-15 — Page 11

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1982

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TANNERY OPERATORS GIVEN LICENCES TO OPERATE AT NEW SITE

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TWENTY-ONE TANNERIES WHICH FORMERLY OPERATED FROM TIN SHEDS IN SHEUNG SHUI WERE TODAY GIVEN LICENCES TO CARRY ON THEIR BUSINESS IN TWO INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AT KWAI CHUNG.

THE OPERATORS HAVE NOW ERECTED THEIR OWN WASTE TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE WING LOT AND WING SHING INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AT GIN DRINKER'S BAY.

UNDER THE OFFENSIVE TRADE REGULATIONS, CERTAIN HEALTH REQUIREMENTS ARE IMPOSED ON TANNERY OPERATORS TO MINIMISE THE NUISANCES AND OFFENSIVENESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRADE.

WITH THE PROPER WASTE WATER TREATMENT DEVICES INSTALLED THE OPERATORS ARE NOW ABLE TO CARRY ON THEIR BUSINESS WITHOUT DISCHARGING LARGE QUANTITIES OF TRADE EFFLUENTS INTO THEIR SURROUNDING AREAS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD SAID.

HE SAID TO DATE, 28 APPLICATIONS FOR OFFENSIVE TRADES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND OF THEM, FIVE HAVE WITHDRAWN AS A RESULT OF WINDING UP OF BUSINESS OR CHANGING TO OTHER TRADES.

LICENCE WILL BE GRANTED TO ONE OF THE REMAINING APPLICANTS AS SOON AS HE COMPLIES WITH THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE WARNED THAT ANYONE WHO WISHED TO RUN A TANNERY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES MUST GET A LICENCE FOR OFFENCE TRADES BEFORE PUTTING HIS PLANT INTO OPERATION OR HE WOULD END UP IN COURT.

THE PURPOSE OF LICENSING OFFENSIVE TRADES IS AIMED AT BRINGING THE FACTORIES UNDER PROPER CONTROL AS IT IS NOT UNCOMMON THAT THE TRADE WOULD LEAD TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THIS INCLUDES DUST AND FLY NUISANCE, FOUL SMELL AND POLLUTION OF SEWERS STREAM AND COASTAL WATER.

APPLICATION FORMS OR INFORMATION ON THE TRADE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE LICENSING OFFICE OF NTSD AT GOLDEN GATE COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 136-138 AUSTIN ROAD, 7TH FLOOR. KOWLOON.

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